b'consternation among the partners when he returned fromthat with seniority came a teacup with fewer and less his honeymoon in 1978 with a beard. He was quick to pointinconvenient chips and cracks.out that beards were also sported by the founders of the firm, whose portraits adorned the corridor. On one occasion in Melbourne, a box of biscuits arrived in reception. It was assumed they were for the tea lady and This would be the final era of the tea lady. A storied institutionthey were distributed to an unusual chorus of compliments. within all law firms, they were considered a critical part of aThey were in fact evidence for a legal dispute. After the firms infrastructure and exerted power in their domain. Atbiscuits had been consumed the error was realised, and the same time each morning and afternoon the tea ladysomeone had to call the client and inform them that the would wheel a trolley around the office distributing tea andfirm had inadvertently eaten the evidence. biscuits to partners and staff. At Feez Ruthning the partners received their hot beverage in fine bone china. It was quipped Allen Allen & Hemsley reception in the MLC Building, Sydney, in the 1980s.167'